7 July 2016
Abingdon’s Amey Theatre was packed as always for our summer concert at the end of the school year. It featured a mix of music old and new from all instrumental ensembles, choirs and soloists.
Orchestra opened the concert with selections from Bernstein’s West Side Story. Junior Choir then sang a traditional Bohemian song – Wondering, followed by Andy Townsend’s Wind Band performing the March from Handel’s Scipio. Years 3, 4 and 5 sang two songs, including Lloyd-Webber’s Any Dream Will Do, whereas Chamber Choir thrilled us with From Russia With Love by Lionel Bart, and My Land by Graham/Lovland. Simon Currie got the audience clapping along to Jazz Band’s fun rendition of the Hawaii-Five-O theme tune, and Y5 brought the first half to a thundering close with African Drumming.
Several of our Y8 leavers performed during the concert. Daniel played jazz piece The Turkey on trumpet, Ashwin on piano played a Rachmaninov prelude, and Robin and Henry duetted in a lovely song by Director of Music Debbie Rose, called Ubi Caritas, written for her father.
Paul Wisby led Guitar Group in a Bowie tribute with Space Oddity. Years 6, 7 and 8 then got the blues singing Sweet Home Chicago, and then Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ The Boat from Guys and Dolls with soloists Dom and Xander.
The Y8 Saxophone Quartet let loose with improvised riffs during their performance of Henry Mancini’s Pink Panther, and the new ensemble Folk Club played and sang the traditional Irish song Star of the County Down. The senior choir sang a Medley from Les Misérables, and the concert was brought to a rousing close when everyone joined in singing Surfin’ USA.
Thank you to Lenka, Helen and the other peris, accompanist Olivia, and all the staff involved who made the concert run so smoothly.
